Cursed by God himself theses poor souls must forever wonder the universe in bodies that areforever aging. However, they have turned their curse into their strength, as they fight againstevery power in this universe to protect those that cannot protect themselves.Fighting with everything they have, single handedly taking on vast armies, even if it means they will be beaten to a bloody wreck they will still stand and fight. They shake planets to their very cores, darken the stars, and movingentire star systems, all for the protection of the universe, they are The Brothers Will, and they never back down. Now come join the fight as you learn how it all began.

Why is your series called Cursed Heroes? Is a question I get all the time, asking me how could it be a bad thing to be a hero. The answer is simple, my series isn’t just about a heroes fighting to save everyone but they are fighting for themselves to. The idea came to me a few years ago, when I wanted to write something and I was in a bad mood. I wanted to think of someone that no matter what kept going and it went from there. I started with the Cursed Human, which was a human cursed by God himself with never ending life, but not a different body. They were human in every way but one they just wouldn’t die, aging and never dying was a cruse like no other. But I also needed a hero for a different project and I just said well what if he was my hero, that would be perfect, but why would anyone cursed by God protect anything.

Therefore, I added it to the curse to protect others, now they had only one ability, which wasn’t anything that could be used to protect anyone. So I gave them a way to have powers that could be nearly anything they wanted. The source of all the heroes powers their Nannies, subatomic machines that allow their user to preform amazing feats. Everything from regenerating damage to the body, to flight, inhuman strength, teleportation, altering the flow of time, the list goes on.

With a drive to fight, powers that were unmatched by any normal person, the formed an alliance to protect. All that was left was the leaders of the alliance and for them I used the two oldest members. The brains and creator of the Nannies Will 24 also known as tech, and the most powerful of the members Will Ten Thousand, together they lead the member of the alliance of Cursed Heroes known as the Brothers Will. But the Brother Will don’t just protect the Earth they protect everything, with stories and legends that stretch across both the vast distances of time and space they fight and protect, when they want to and when they don’t. They never stop, for all time cursed to be the protectors of the universe. They are Cursed Heroes, and they are the Brother Will.

BLURB:Girls, if you had the perfect boyfriend who suddenly reveals he's a vampire, and also wants to make you one or else...what would you do?

That is the dilemma college graduate Claire McCormick faces. Her life is brightened up by Daniel Bertrand in a whirlwind romance, who only to turns out to be a bloodthirsty vampire. He also won't take no for an answer when he proposes for Claire to join him for eternity. She faces becoming evil herself or have evil done to her and her loved ones. The Dark Proposal explores Claire's nightmare and fears while she makes her decision. Along the way, she learns why exactly Daniel wants her to be vampire.

The Dark Proposal will be the first book in a trilogy that follows what becomes of Claire and the vampires. It will be released on Kindle this September.

A Must for All Aspiring WritersIf I could give one piece of advice to anyone who is serious about writing and wants to show their work to anyone outside of their friends and family, I would say only four words: Get some thick skin.During the time leading up to the completion of my first book, “The Dark Proposal”, I learned the importance of not taking constructive criticism to heart. Not only does it help you save face, but you really do learn how to make your story better. Yes, it can be hard to learn that your great plot idea does not work or your grammar is way off. But hey, no one becomes a solid writer overnightI wish some people would realize this. I run a small writer’s group, and I’ve had a few members be not very open to critiques. They came to the meetings with the expectation that everyone would understand and love their story. But when anyone of us pointed out a simple flaw or made a minor suggestion, they were personally offended, and boy did they strike back. I had one elderly man lash out at me because, unlike his friends, I was confused by his short-story.“It wasn’t written for people like you!” He said. “If you don’t get it, that’s your problem and I don’t care!”Another member did not appreciate it when I said some of his descriptions were vague. The way his face darkened when I said that is still fresh in my mind, as well as his curt comment when I later said I never read any of Edgar Allen Poe’s work: “No surprise there,” he said.I can go on forever about the people who’ve reacted poorly to constructive criticism in my writer’s group or any workshop I took part in. To me, it really is disgusting to see some people be so rude over a comment that would help make their work better. Oh, by the way, those arrogant people who came to my meetings I either removed from my group because of their poor attitudes or never came back for another meeting – which was fine with me!See, anyone who is looking to improve in whatever they do, be it writing, painting, singing, etc., is going to be ripped apart by someone. It’s a fact of life, and there’s no escaping it. Not everyone is going to be amazed by your work, and you are bound to make mistakes with your WIP. Everyone has been in those situations, even James Patterson, Catherine Coulter, Stephen King and all the other successful authors.And besides, if you can’t handle criticism from a beta reader or an editor, what will happen if you publish your book and get 1-star reviews across the board?Of course, no one should ever tell another person they have no writing ability and should stop dreaming of ever being a writer (unless that person continuously fails to produce something decent and just doesn’t learn the craft). But a good reviewer will point out the good, the bad, and even the ugly if it exists. A writer is constantly developing his or her craft, and you need brutal honesty to know that you’re developing in the right direction. You may have some flaws that you’re unaware of or a plot idea may make sense to you, but not a lot of other people. So, you really do need an extra set of eyes on your WIP. When you do, get ready for the onslaught. It’s going to sting at first when your work is critique, but if you’re smart and humble enough, you will develop the thick skin you’ll need for this field. After that, you’ll be on your way!

Thanks so much for stopping by with this guest post Megan!

For a sneak at the first chapter:

Claire McCormick sighed heavily when she saw the professor’s name on the letter.“I can’t believe he’s gone.” she mumbled.“Who? Colin Willis?” came a voice from across the office.Claire looked up at the other secretary and nodded. “Yeah, I just don’t understand why would anyone would want to kill him.” She set aside the letter and continued going through the papers she had to put away. “He was my favorite professor. He was so encouraging and fun, and I used to always look forward to his classes.”The secretary, Nancy Giordano, shook her head sadly. “Yes, it was a big loss for all of us. Such a pleasant man. Even worse,” she stood up to use the copy machine. “There hasn’t been arrests or any leads. Nothing has happened!”Claire could only nod. Two weeks had passed since the death of Colin Willis, and the case seemed to have already run cold. The professor was found dead in his Brooklyn apartment after neighbors reported a foul odour coming from there. Willis was found on his bedroom floor, his throat slashed open. There was no evidence of forced entry, robbery or anything of the like. From what Claire had heard, it was as though someone calmly walked into Willis’ apartment, killed him without a fight and calmly walked out.She blinked a few times to clear her mind. She didn’t want to spend too much time dwelling on how the professor died or sadness would weigh her down. Instead, she focused on getting her work done for the day. Claire worked part-time at the English department at Richmond College, a small private institution in New York City. Although she had graduated a few months earlier, she kept her job as she struggled to find work.Even Nancy seemed to want to change the mood of the office. She went back to her cheerful humming and even brought up a subject that always lit Claire up. “How’s your niece doing?”“She’s doing very well!” She beamed. “Ava is learning to sit up by herself. She is getting so big! I should have new pictures to show you soon since my sister-in-law is always taking pictures!”She finished going through the papers and went over to the filing cabinet to begin filing them. Looking at the clock above the cabinet, Claire almost smiled again as she saw it was fifteen minutes to five.But it was who entered the office right then that prevented her from smiling altogether.He strolled in calmly and casually, not making a grand entrance in hopes of being noticed. He politely said hello to Nancy, who was back at her desk and had tightened up by the mere sight of him, but he did not appear to notice. He then nodded at Claire, who mumbled “Hi” back to him, but was taking in his appearance. She could have glanced at this man and continued filing away the papers. But it was what he wore that made her almost stare.It was eighty-five degrees outside, partly cloudy with the sun peeking out now and then, and the man was wearing a long sleeved red shirt buttoned up except for the top one at the collarbone. On his legs were slim khakis, brown socks and loafers. How could this person dress like that in the heat?Upon examining this stranger’s attire, she also noticed his skin, or what little was shown of it. Despite the three months of summer, the man was noticeably pale, almost sickly looking. Was there something wrong with him?After acknowledging his odd appearance, Claire noted the rest of him. He looked to be in his mid-twenties, a little under six feet of medium build with light brown hair and blue-green eyes. She also saw that he was handsome, with high cheekbones framing his face. However, his clothing overwhelmed his good looks.“Laura Matthews will be available shortly, Daniel,” Nancy was telling him, saying the chairwoman’s name. “Have a seat and she will see you in a few.”“Thank you, Nancy,” the man responded politely but distantly, with a cultured sounding accent. Claire couldn’t tell whether it was British or not, but it certainly wasn’t American.He went to sit on the cushioned chairs against the wall, opposite the filing cabinets. That was when she saw he had a satchel over his shoulder, the type many professors carried around campus. If this Daniel was a professor, why hadn’t she ever seen him during her four years at Richmond College?Nancy was talking to the man, though in a more guarded tone than her usual perkiness. “Daniel, how was your summer in Australia? I understand you did some reporting Down Under?”Over at the filing cabinet, Claire’s ears perked.“It was a great trip, as always. Spent time with friends and family, got a lot of work done. Can’t complain,” Daniel answered.“You went to Australia for the summer?” Claire left the cabinet drawer open and walked over to the professor. “Do you go there often?”Daniel looked over at Claire, sized her up and replied, “Yes, I have relatives and friends in Sydney. The summer is my one chance to see them.”“And you’re a reporter? For what publication?”“Many. I’m a freelancer.”Nancy put on one of her broad smiles. “Claire graduated from our English Writing program this past May. She’s been doing some freelancing ever since, but it is difficult out there.”Claire felt a bit embarrassed that the secretary introduced her to Daniel in this way, but he didn’t seem too fazed. Instead, he raised his eyebrows, slightly intrigued “A freelance writer? And what was your name again?”“Claire. Claire McCormick. I work here part-time.” Why did she say the last part?“Where have you been published?”“A few places online and local newspapers, nothing too spectacular. And I interned for a bi-weekly Brooklyn magazine.”“So, I take it writing is really something you want to do?”She nodded. “Yeah, I mean, I like to write. I like to tell stories and inform people. Writing is how I communicate to the world.”Daniel smiled. “That’s always good to hear. You can tell when someone is serious about the written word.”“Are you an international journalist?” Claire knew she looked stupid standing before this person in the middle of the office, gushing about writing and traveling like a wide-eyed young girl. But she too eager to learn about what seemed like an exciting life.Daniel smiled again, though this time he seemed to hold back a laugh. “Yes, in some degree. I am not world famous or else I wouldn’t be here.”“Where have you’ve been published?”Daniel named off some magazines and websites for men, traveling, lifestyle and even one major news outlet. “I’ve been freelancing for six years and I still have to fight my way to get published. As I said, I am not world famous, so I still feel the competition.”Before she could ask any more questions, Laura Matthews appeared in the doorway to her office. She gave Claire a stern look, which sent her back to filing the papers, and called in Daniel. He walked in without speaking, and closed the door behind him. Once that happened, Claire immediately shut the cabinet she was working on and rushed over to Nancy’s desk.“Who is he? How come I've never seen him before?”“That’s Daniel Bertrand, he’s an adjunct professor here. He only started last year and only works nights. Since he’s new, he gets stuck with the 101 classes,” Nancy answered as she shut down her computer.“Really? No wonder why I’ve never seen him before.” She thought back on the conversation. “He said he’s been freelancing for six years. Is he working on his PhD?”“No, I understand he got his two years ago.”“Two years ago? Nancy, he doesn’t even look old enough to have one.”“Yes, I know. I always assumed he just looks young for his age. I’ve heard he’s about thirty years old.”

AUTHOR BIOGRAPHY: Former freelance journalist Megan Cashman is getting ready to publish her first book in September 2012. The Dark Proposal will be released as an E-book on Kindle.

Megan has worked for cable news stations, both local and national, and has a master's degree in journalism under her belt.

Born and raised on Staten Island, New York's forgotten borough, Megan always had a love of reading and writing. Her favorite authors are Paulo Coelho, Anne Rice, Khaled Hosseini, and Sarah Dunant. She enjoys books that take her to a different world and/or see her world differently. She hopes to do the same for her future readers.

As for other things, Megan likes to hit the beach in the summer, rollerblade, do yoga and cook. She loves to blast her iTunes with all her songs. Her favorite acts are U2, Enigma, Depeche Mode, Garbage, Sarah McLachlan and many more - she even likes Celtic and New Age music!

Her favorite movie is The Lord of the Rings trilogy. She tunes in to watch Once Upon A Time, Girls, Game of Thrones and True Blood.

Welcome to my stop on The Door Is Open Tour. Brought to you by Innovative Online Book Tours. Here you can read the first chapter of The Door is open, and learn a little more about Andrew Cort from his bio. Don’t forget to visit the other blogs on this tour for more information about this book and author.

Synopsis:

The door is always open. The light is always ready to receive us. But we have to learn how to tread the path.

Fortunately for us, all of the wonderful myths and legends of ancient Greece, as well as all the sacred and beautiful stories of Judaism, Christianity and Islam, have the common aim of showing us, through symbols and allegories, a practical method for reaching spiritual enlightenment, for returning 'home'.

THE DOOR IS OPEN describes the seven precise steps that are revealed in all great mythology and scripture, along with enjoyable and effective spiritual exercises and activities that are suitable for individual seekers or groups of friends working together.

This is a story that has been lost and forgotten, even though the entire tale has been right before our eyes the whole time.

First Chapter

MAKING THE DECISION

What is happiness? We all seek it, but what exactly is it? Some of us associate happiness with pleasure, others may relate it to worldly achievement, still others with the attainment of money or possessions. Some think of happiness in terms of good health, the enjoyment of leisure activities, or basking in the affection of one’s friends, family and loved ones. In ancient Greece, people had similar ideas on the subject. But Socrates startled the people of Athens by rejecting these opinions and claiming that happiness was to be found in the perfection of the soul. The soul was immortal, he claimed, and its welfare should be our chief concern, since its fate after death would be determined by how one lived one’s life on Earth. All the other things that people desire, Socrates believed, were of no real importance compared to the eternal joy that would be achieved by the soul’s enlightenment. This was the spiritual task to which Socrates relentlessly enjoined anyone who would listen. Eventually, he so annoyed the complacent authorities of Athens, that at the age of seventy they condemned him to death on trumped up charges of impiety and corrupting the youth of the city. If Socrates was right, and I believe he was, his fate stands as a stark warning regarding the risks and difficulties in making the decision to pursue spiritual growth and inner work rather than pursuing the usual material endeavors that fill up most of our time. Why would we do it? Why offend the mediocre status quo?

Andrew Cort is an expert on the inner message of Spiritual Awakening that is always ready to be found in the wonderful stories of the Bible and Greek Mythology. To receive several FREE GIFTS from Dr. Cort(a copy of Chapter One, ‘Making the Decision’, from his new book, THE DOOR IS OPEN; a copy of his article on RECONCILING SCIENCE AND RELIGION; and a complete version of the Bible’s erotic masterpiece, SONG OF SONGS , adapted as a Poetic Dialogue to be read out loud by lovers; as well as a subscription to his SPIRITUAL GROWTH NEWSLETTER) click here http://www.andrewcort.com/Gifts . You can also learn more on his blog, Spirituality and Religion.